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A festive holiday cake with a buttery pecan base, tender vanilla crumb, and joyful cranberry–cream cheese swirls.

Christmas Chaos Cake

A festive holiday cake with a buttery pecan base, tender vanilla crumb, and joyful cranberry–cream cheese swirls.
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Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ cups chopped pecans
  • 1 box white or yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¾ cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup butter softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Equipment

  • 9×13-inch baking dish
  • mixing bowls
  • - Hand mixer
  • whisk
  • Rubber spatula

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease baking dish.
  2. Sprinkle pecans over bottom of pan.
  3. Mix cake batter and pour over pecans.
  4. Beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and sugar until smooth.
  5. Dollop cranberry sauce and cream cheese over batter.
  6. Swirl gently with knife.
  7. Bake 45–52 minutes until set.
  8. Cool at least 1 hour before slicing.

Notes

Do not over-swirl or layers will muddy
Metal pans bake more evenly than glass
Full cooling time is essential for clean slices
Toast pecans for maximum flavor
Store covered to prevent drying